Optical writing device and image forming apparatus

ABSTRACT

An optical writing device includes a plurality of current driven light emitting elements, first and second power source lines, a designation circuit that outputs a designation potential, first driving circuits provided for each of the light emitting elements to supply driving current to the corresponding light emitting element, second driving circuits provided for each of the light emitting elements to supply driving current to the corresponding light emitting element, and a switching control unit that alternately switches respective states of the first and second driving circuits between a state where one of the first and second driving circuits receives the designation potential while the other driving circuit supplies the driving current, and a state where the other driving circuit receives the designation potential while the one driving circuit supplies the driving current.

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-094571filed on May 1, 2014 including description, claims, drawings, andabstract are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an optical writing device and an imageforming apparatus, and particularly to a technology for preventingnon-uniformity of light intensity of an optical writing device whichuses an organic LED.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, an optical writing device (PH: Print Head) includingorganic LEDs (OLEDs: Organic Light Emitting Diodes) has been proposed asa component equipped on an image forming apparatus with an aim ofminiaturization and cost reduction of the image forming apparatus. OLEDsare disposed on a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) substrate and arranged inlines in a horizontal scanning direction, and electrically connected inparallel via power source wiring similarly arranged in the horizontalscanning direction (FIG. 10).

An OLED is called an organic EL (Organic Electro-Luminescence) elementas well, and provided as a current driven light emitting element. Whendriving current is supplied to an OLED via power source wiring, avoltage drop occurs along the power source wiring due to wiringresistance.

On the other hand, a driving circuit which generates driving current foran OLED is provided for each OLED at a position adjacent to thecorresponding OLED, and generates driving current in reference to anelectric potential at a junction point between the driving circuit andthe power source wiring. Accordingly, the voltage drop at the powersource wiring produces a drop of the reference potential, in whichcondition the amount of driving current to be supplied to the OLED isvariable. In this case, the light emission luminance becomes variable,and non-uniformity of images may be caused (FIGS. 11A and 11B).

For overcoming this problem, reduction of impedance of power sourcewiring has been proposed, for example (JP 2005-144685 A, JP 2005-144686A, JP 2005-144687 A, and JP 2010-076184 A). According to this method,the voltage drop produced by driving current is avoidable, wherefore thenon-uniformity of images can decrease.

According to the foregoing conventional technology, power source wiringis further formed on sealing glass provided for sealing the TFTsubstrate, and the power source wiring on the TFT substrate and thepower source wiring on the sealing glass are electrically connected byconnecting parts at respective power supply points of the drivingcircuit, for the purpose of reduction of impedance of the power sourcewiring. In this case, there is a problem that the unit cost rises.Moreover, the auxiliary power source wiring thus formed is thin-filmwiring, wherefore reduction of impedance of the power source wiring islimited.

According to another conventional technology, one line cycle is dividedinto a sample period and a hold period. During the sample period, OLEDsare turned off, and a luminance signal output from a DAC (Digital toAnalogue Converter) circuit is temporarily held in a sample hold circuit(hereinafter referred to as “S/H circuit”) provided for each OLED.During the hold period, driving current in correspondence with theluminance signal held in the S/H circuit is supplied to each OLED toallow light emission therefrom.

According to this structure, no driving current flows during the sampleperiod, in which condition no voltage drop occurs. Accordingly, theluminance signal is appropriately sampled, wherefore non-uniformity ofluminance caused by a voltage drop is avoidable.

However, while a method so-called rolling driving turns off an OLED onlywhen the luminance signal is input to the corresponding S/H circuit,this conventional technology turns off OLEDs throughout the sampleperiod in which luminance signals are sequentially input to a number ofS/H circuits, and only turns on the OLEDs during the hold period. Inthis case, light emission duty corresponding to a proportion of a lightemission period in a horizontal scanning period (Hsync) lowers,wherefore the light emission period becomes short.

When the light emission amount from the OLEDs is raised by increasingthe amount of driving current supplied to the OLEDs so as to obtainsufficient exposure during the short light emission period, the life ofthe OLEDs may decrease.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed to solve the aforementionedproblems. It is an object of the present invention to provide an opticalwriting device and an image forming apparatus, capable of improvingimage quality and prolonging lives of the optical writing device and theimage forming apparatus, by preventing non-uniformity of light intensityof OLEDs, and increasing light emission duty.

To achieve the abovementioned object, according to an aspect, an opticalwriting device that exposes a photosensitive body to form anelectrostatic latent image line by line for each horizontal scanningperiod, reflecting one aspect of the present invention, comprises: aplurality of current driven light emitting elements arranged in lines;first and second power source lines extending along the plurality oflight emitting elements, and connected with a constant voltage source; adesignation circuit that outputs a designation potential designating alight emission amount for each of the light emitting elements; firstdriving circuits provided for each of the light emitting elements, eachof the first driving circuits including a first holding circuit thatreceives and holds the designation potential output from the designationcircuit, and connected with the first power source line to supplydriving current to the corresponding light emitting element inaccordance with a potential difference between a potential at a junctionpoint with the first power source line and the designation potentialheld by the first holding circuit; second driving circuits provided foreach of the light emitting elements, each of the second driving circuitsincluding a second holding circuit that receives and holds thedesignation potential output from the designation circuit, and connectedwith the second power source line to supply driving current to thecorresponding light emitting element in accordance with a potentialdifference between a potential at a junction point with the second powersource line and the designation potential held by the second holdingcircuit; and a switching control unit that controls the first and seconddriving circuits provided for the same light emitting element so as toalternately switch respective states of the first and second drivingcircuits between a state where one of the first and second drivingcircuits receives the designation potential while the other drivingcircuit supplies the driving current, and a state where the otherdriving circuit receives the designation potential while the one drivingcircuit supplies the driving current, for each of the horizontalscanning periods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the presentinvention will become more fully understood from the detaileddescription given hereinbelow and the appended drawings which are givenby way of illustration only, and thus are not intended as a definitionof the limits of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a main configuration of an image formingapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating optical writing operationexecuted by an optical writing device 123;

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of an OLED panel 200, accompanied with across-sectional view taken along a line A-A′, and a cross-sectional viewtaken along a line C-C′;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a main circuit configuration on aTFT substrate 300;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a main configuration of a shift register401;

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram illustrating a main configuration of adriving circuit 404;

FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing an example of exposing operationperformed for one light emission block;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are circuit diagrams showing examples of exposingoperation executed by a dot driving circuit 403;

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram illustrating a main configuration of the dotdriving circuit 403 according to a modified example of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a configuration example of an opticalwriting device according to a conventional technology; and

FIGS. 11A and 11B are views illustrating a voltage drop produced inpower source wiring.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an optical writing device and an image forming apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention will be describedwith reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention isnot limited to the illustrated examples.

[1] Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus Initially, a Configurationof the Image Forming Apparatus According to this Embodiment is Described

[1-1] Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus

The configuration of the image forming apparatus according to thisembodiment is now described.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a main configuration of the image formingapparatus according to this embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1, animage forming apparatus 1 is a so-called tandem color multi-functionperipheral (MFP), and includes a document reading unit 100, an imageforming unit 110, and a feeding unit 130. The document reading unit 100optically reads a document placed on a document tray 101 and createsimage data of the document, while sending the document by using anautomatic document feeder (ADF) 102. The image data thus obtained isstored in a control unit 112 (described later).

The image forming unit 110 includes imaging units 111Y through 111K, thecontrol unit 112, an intermediate transfer belt 113, a pair of secondarytransfer rollers 114, a fixing device 115, a pair of discharge rollers116, a discharge tray 117, a cleaning blade 118, and a pair of timingrollers 119. Toner cartridges 120Y through 120K are attached to theimage forming unit 110 to supply toner in colors of Y (yellow), M(magenta), C (cyan), and K (black), respectively.

The imaging units 111Y through 111K receive supply of toner from thecorresponding toner cartridges 120Y through 120K, and form toner imagesin respective colors of Y, M, C, and K under the control of the controlunit 112. For example, the imaging unit 111Y includes a photosensitivedrum 121, a charging device 122, an optical writing device 123, adeveloping device 124, and a cleaning device 125. The charging device122 uniformly charges an outer circumferential surface of thephotosensitive drum 121 under the control of the control unit 112.

The control unit 112 generates a digital luminance signal to allow lightemission from the optical writing device 123 based on printing imagedata contained in a received job. The control unit 112 generates thisdigital luminance signal by using an ASIC (Application SpecificIntegrated Circuit, hereinafter referred to as “luminance signal outputunit”) contained in the control unit 112. The optical writing device 123includes light emitting elements arranged in lines in the horizontalscanning direction, as will be described later. The optical writingdevice 123 executes optical writing to the outer circumferential surfaceof the photosensitive drum 121 by utilizing light emitted from therespective light emitting elements in response to the digital luminancesignal generated from the control unit 112, and forms an electrostaticlatent image.

The developing device 124 supplies toner to the outer circumferentialsurface of the photosensitive drum 121 to develop the electrostaticlatent image (visualize the image). Primary transfer voltage is appliedto the primary transfer roller 126 so that a toner image carried on theouter circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 121 can beelectrostatically transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 113 byelectrostatic attachment (primary transfer). After the primary transfer,the cleaning device 125 scrapes residual toner remaining on the outercircumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 121 off the surfaceby using a cleaning blade, and illuminates the outer circumferentialsurface of the photosensitive drum 121 by using a discharging lamp toremove charges from the surface.

The imaging units 111M through 111K form toner images in colors of M, C,and K, respectively, in manners similar to the foregoing method. Thesetoner images are sequentially transferred to the intermediate transferbelt 113 by the primary transfer such that the respective toner imagesare overlapped with each other and forma color toner image on theintermediate transfer belt 113. The intermediate transfer belt 113 is anendless rotating body which rotates in a direction indicated by an arrowA. The intermediate transfer belt 113 sends the toner image after theprimary transfer toward the pair of secondary transfer rollers 114.

The feeding unit 130 includes feeding cassettes 131, each of whichstores recording sheets S in corresponding sheet size. The feeding unit130 supplies the recording sheets S sheet by sheet to the image formingunit 110. The recording sheet S supplied from the feeding unit 130 isconveyed in parallel with the running of the toner image on theintermediate transfer belt 113, and passes through the pair of timingrollers 119 to reach the pair of secondary transfer rollers 114. Thepair of timing rollers 119 sends the recording sheet S such that therecording sheet S and the toner image can reach the pair of secondarytransfer rollers 114 at the same time.

The pair of secondary transfer rollers 114 is constituted of a pair ofrollers to which secondary transfer voltage is applied. The pair ofsecondary transfer rollers 114 is pressed against each other to form asecondary transfer nip portion. The toner image on the intermediatetransfer belt 113 is electrostatically transferred to the recordingsheet S (secondary transfer) at this transfer nip portion. The recordingsheet S to which the toner image has been transferred is sent to thefixing device 115. Residual toner remaining on the intermediate transferbelt 113 after the secondary transfer is further conveyed in thedirection of the arrow A, and scraped by the cleaning blade 118 to bediscarded.

The fixing device 115 fixes the toner image to the recording sheet S byheating and fusing the toner image. The recording sheet S to which thetoner image has been fixed by fusing is discharged to the discharge tray117 by the pair of discharge rollers 116.

The control unit 112 controls the foregoing processes and otheroperation of the image forming apparatus 1, including operation of anot-shown operation panel. The control unit 112 transmits and receivesimage data to and from other devices such as a personal computer (PC),and receives printing jobs. The control unit 112 includes a facsimilemodem to transmit and receive image data to and from other facsimilemachines via facsimile lines.

Instead of the configuration discussed herein, a transfer charger or atransfer belt may be employed in transferring toner images in place ofthe transfer rollers. In addition, in removing residual toner from theintermediate transfer belt 113, a cleaning brush or a cleaning rollermay be employed in place of the cleaning blade 118.

[2] Configuration of Optical Writing Device 123

A configuration of the optical writing device 123 is hereinafterdescribed.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating optical writing operationperformed by the optical writing device 123. As illustrated in FIG. 2,the optical writing device 123 includes an OLED panel 200 and a rod lensarray (SLA: Selfoc Lens Array) 202, both components of which are housedin a holder 203. OLEDs 201 corresponding to a number of light emissiondots are mounted on the OLED panel 200 and arranged in lines in thehorizontal scanning direction. Each of the OLEDs 201 emits optical beamsL, while the rod lens array 202 converges the optical beams L on theouter circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 121.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the OLED panel 200, accompanied witha cross-sectional view taken along a line A-A′, and a cross-sectionalview taken along a line C-C′. A schematic plan view part in FIG. 3 showsthe OLED panel 200 from which a sealing plate (described later) isremoved.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the OLED panel 200 includes a TFT substrate300, a sealing plate 301, a source IC 302, and others. A number of OLEDsare disposed on the TFT substrate 300 and arranged in lines in thehorizontal scanning direction. The TFT substrate 300 has a substratesurface on which the OLEDs are arranged. This surface is provided as asealing area to which the sealing plate 301 is attached with spacerframe bodies 303 interposed between the sealing area and the sealingplate 301.

This structure produces a sealed condition of the sealing area, intowhich dry nitrogen or the like is charged to avoid contact between thesealing area and the outside air. A moisture absorbent may be furthersealed into the sealing area for absorbing moisture. The sealing plate301 may be made of sealing glass, for example, or material other thanglass.

The source IC 302 is mounted on the TFT substrate 300 in an area out ofthe sealing area. A luminance signal output unit 310 of the control unit112 inputs a digital luminance signal to the source IC 302 via aflexible wire 311. The source IC 302 converts the digital luminancesignal into an analog luminance signal (hereinafter abbreviated as“luminance signal”), and inputs the converted signal to driving circuitsprovided for each of the OLEDs. The driving circuits generate drivingcurrent for the OLEDs in accordance with the luminance signal. Accordingto this embodiment, the luminance signal is a voltage signal.

According to this embodiment, 15,000 OLEDs are arranged in lines on theTFT substrate 300, and divided into 150 light emission blocks each ofwhich contains 100 OLEDs.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a main circuit configuration onthe TFT substrate 300. As illustrated in FIG. 4, a dot circuit array 400is formed on the TFT substrate 300. The dot circuit array 400 includes,for each light emission block, a shift register 401, and dot circuits402 provided for each of OLEDs 405, and receives input of controlsignals from an SEL circuit, a φSH circuit, and a DAC circuit containedin the source IC 302.

The shift register 401 provided for each of the light emission blockssequentially designates a dot circuit to which a luminance signal is tobe written. The shift register 401 also includes a logic circuit forcontrolling operation of the corresponding dot circuits 402. FIG. 5illustrates a main configuration of the shift register 401. The shiftregister 401, having received input of an SEL signal and a φSH signalfrom the SEL circuit and the φSH circuit of the source IC, produces a/SEL signal corresponding to an inverse signal of the SEL signal at aNOT element 502.

The shift register 401 further produces a φA signal at an OR element 501based on the SEL signal and the φSH signal, and produces a φB signal atan OR element 503 based on the /SEL signal and the φSH signal. The SELsignal and the /SEL signal are used in selecting a power source linethrough which driving current is supplied to the corresponding OLED 405,as will be discussed later. The φA signal and the φB signal are used indetermining whether or not the luminance signal is to be written.

Each of the dot circuits 402 includes the OLED 405 and a dot drivingcircuit 403. The dot driving circuit 403 is constituted of drivingcircuits 404A and 404B of dual systems A and B. The driving circuits404A and 404B receive power supply via power source lines VcA and VcB ofthe dual systems A and B, respectively, as lines extending from aconstant voltage source Vc. The power source lines VcA and VcB arebranched from each other in the vicinity of the DAC circuit (source IC302) outside the dot circuit array 400, and wired after the branch tothe driving circuits 404A and 404B, respectively, with no junctionbetween the power source lines VcA and VcB.

Driving current of an amount corresponding to the luminance signalreceived from the DAC circuit is supplied to the OLED 405 via thedriving circuit 404A or 404B designated based on the SEL signal and the/SEL signal.

According to this embodiment, the TFT substrate 300 is formed in thefollowing procedures. Initially, the dot circuit array 400 not includingthe OLEDs 405 is formed on a glass substrate. Then, the OLEDs 405 areformed. Subsequently, the source IC 302 is mounted to complete the TFTsubstrate 300.

[3] Configuration of Driving Circuits 404

A configuration of the driving circuits 404 is hereinafter described.The driving circuits 404A and 404B of the A and B systems have a commonconfiguration. Accordingly, in the following description, signs “A” and“B” are not given to the reference numerals of the driving circuits 404Aand 404B.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram illustrating a main configuration of thedriving circuits 404. As illustrated in FIG. 6, each of the drivingcircuits 404 includes selector switches 601 and 604, a capacitor 602,and a TFT 603. According to this embodiment, each of the selectorswitches 601 and 604 is a TFT.

The capacitor 602 and the selector switch 601 function as an S/H circuitunit, and hold a potential difference between the luminance signaloutput from the DAC circuit, and the constant voltage source Vc. Therespective selector switches 601 disposed on wires extending from acorresponding signal line to the capacitors 602 are switched inaccordance with the control signals φA and φB received from the shiftregister 401, so that the luminance signal is input only to the selectedcapacitor 602 and held therein.

According to this embodiment, the signal line extending from the DACcircuit to the driving circuits 404 is provided as a common line for theA and B systems. However, the signal line from the DAC circuit may beseparately provided for each of the A and B systems.

The TFT 603 supplies, to the OLED 405, driving current corresponding tothe luminance signal held in the capacitor 602, in response to theluminance signal applied between a source and a drain of the TFT 603.

The selector switch 604 is disposed between a drain terminal of the TFT603 and the OLED 405. The selector switch 604 functions as a drivingcurrent control unit which supplies driving current to the OLED 405 onlyfrom the driving circuit 404 of the system A or B2 selected by the shiftregister 401.

When the selector switch 604 is disposed on the circuitry in the rangefrom the power source line Vc to the TFT 603, gate voltage Vg of the TFT603 is variable in accordance with variations of conduction-statecharacteristics of the selector switch 604. In this case, the accuracyof the driving current amount to be supplied may decrease.

Moreover, in manufacturing the OLED panel 200, OLEDs need to be formedon the upper part of TFTs previously formed on the glass substrate.Accordingly, when the selector switch 604 is disposed on the cathodeside of the OLED 405, the OLED 405 comes to the position of thecircuitry in the range from the TFT 603 to the selector switch 604.

In this case, the selector switch 604 needs to be further formed on theupper part of the OLED 405, for example, after the OLED 405 is formed onthe upper part of the TFT 603. Accordingly, a connection step isadditionally required for connecting the OLED 405 and the selectorswitch 604, in which case design and manufacture become difficult.

On the other hand, when the selector switch 604 is disposed on thecircuitry in the range from the TFT 603 to the OLED 405 as in thisembodiment, the following advantages are offered:

-   -   (a) reduction of variations of the driving current amount        resulting from variations of the conduction-state        characteristics of the selector switch 604; and    -   (b) easy formation of the circuitry.

[4] Operation of Optical Writing Device 123

Operation of the optical writing device 123 is hereinafter described.Every light emission block operates in a similar manner, whereforeoperation of one of the light emission blocks is only discussed herein.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing an example of exposing operationexecuted by the one light emission block. The light emission blockexposes the outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 121line by line. FIG. 7 shows exposing operation executed from the mth lineto the (m+2)th line.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the φSH signal repeats both an H state and anL state 100 times to sequentially select the 100 OLEDs 405 constitutingthe one light emission block during one horizontal scanning period(Hsync).

The SEL signal holds either an H state and an L state during onehorizontal scanning period to control on and off of the selector switch604B of the B system. In the H state of the SEL signal, the selectorswitch 604B is turned on, and driving current is supplied from thedriving circuit 404B of the B system to the OLED 405. On the other hand,in the L state of the SEL signal, the selector switch 604B is turnedoff, in which condition no driving current is supplied from the Bsystem.

The /SEL signal is an inverse signal of the SEL signal, and controls onand off of the selector switch 604A of the A system. In an H state ofthe /SEL signal, the selector switch 604A is turned on, and drivingcurrent is supplied from the driving circuit 404A to the OLED 405. Onthe other hand, in an L state of the /SEL signal, the selector switch604A is turned off, in which condition no driving current is suppliedfrom the A system.

A φA(n) signal controls the selector switch 601A included in the drivingcircuit 404A in the A system of the nth (n=1 through 100) dot drivingcircuit 403. In an H state of the φA(n) signal, the selector switch 601Ais turned on, and a luminance signal is written to the capacitor 602A.In an L state of the φA(n) signal, the selector switch 601A is turnedoff, in which condition luminance signal writing to the capacitor 602Ais inhibited.

Similarly, a φB(n) signal controls the selector switch 601B included inthe driving circuit 404B in the B system of the nth (n=1 through 100)dot driving circuit 403. In an H state of the φB(n) signal, the selectorswitch 601B is turned on, and a luminance signal is written to thecapacitor 602B. In an L state of the φB(n) signal, the selector switch601B is turned off, in which condition luminance signal writing to thecapacitor 602B is inhibited.

During the horizontal scanning period for exposing the mth line, theH-state SEL signal is input, for example. In this case, the A system isdesignated for the writing period, while the B system is designated forthe driving period. Every time the φSH signal comes to the H state, aluminance signal is sequentially written to the capacitor 602A of thenth A system and held therein.

As illustrated in FIG. 8A, the driving circuit 404A of the A system inthis case does not supply driving current to the OLED 405. Accordingly,no current flows in the power source line VcA of the A system, whereforea potential VcA(n) at a junction point between the nth driving circuit404A and the power source line VcA does not drop. As a result, thepotential at the junction point VcA(n) becomes substantially equivalentto a constant voltage Vc, wherefore a potential difference between theconstant voltage Vc and a luminance signal Vdac (m) is accuratelywritten to the capacitor 602A.

On the other hand, the driving circuit 404B of the B system supplies, tothe OLED 405, driving current corresponding to a potential differencewritten to the capacitor 602B during the horizontal scanning period forthe (m−1) th line in a manner similar to the foregoing method. As aresult, current flows in the power source line VcB, wherefore a junctionpoint potential VcB(n) drops.

However, under the condition that the selector switch 601B has beenturned off, the potential difference between the terminals of thecapacitor 602B is maintained without variation, and applied to the TFT604B as gate voltage VgB. In this case, the gate voltage VgB of the TFT603B is not affected by the voltage drop of the junction point potentialVcB(n), wherefore non-uniformity of luminance resulting from a voltagedrop does not occur.

Subsequently, in the horizontal scanning period for exposing the (m+1)thline, the SEL signal comes to the L state. As a result, the writingperiod of the A system is switched to the driving period, while thedriving period of the B system is switched to the writing period. Inthis case, the driving circuit 404A of the A system supplies drivingcurrent to the OLED 405 while not affected by the voltage drop of thejunction point potential VcA(n) as illustrated in FIG. 8B. On the otherhand, the junction point voltage VcB (n) does not drop in the drivingcircuit 404B of the B system, wherefore the potential difference betweenthe constant voltage Vc and a luminance signal Vdac(m−1) is accuratelywritten to the capacitor 602B.

During the horizontal scanning periods for exposing the (m+2)th line andfurther lines, processes similar to the foregoing processes arealternately repeated. After completion of these processes, exposure ofan entire printing image ends.

[4] Modified Examples

While the embodiment of the present invention has been described, it isintended, as a matter of course, that the present invention should notbe limited to the embodiment described herein. For example, thefollowing modifications may be made.

(1) According to this embodiment, the selector switch 604 is disposed onthe circuitry in the range from TFT 603 to the OLED 405. However,needless to say, the present invention is not limited to this example.Instead, the following configuration may be employed.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram illustrating a main configuration of thedriving circuits 404 according to a modified example. As illustrated inFIG. 9, each of the selector switches 604 is disposed on the circuitryin the range from the capacitor 602 to the gate electrode of the TFT603. According to this configuration, the driving circuits 404 executesimilar operation based on control signals similar to the correspondingsignals of the foregoing embodiment.

In addition, this configuration decreases loads such as parasiticcapacitance and element resistance which may be produced on the drainelectrode side of the TFT 603, and thus achieves higher light emissionresponsiveness. Accordingly, image quality such as contrast and MTF(Modulation Transfer Function) improves.

(2) According to this embodiment, the selector switch 604 is controlledvia the shift register 401. However, needless to say, the presentinvention is not limited to this example. The selector switch 604 may becontrolled directly by the source IC 302 or other components positionedoutside the dot circuit array 400, for example.

(3) According to this embodiment, the control unit 112 generates thedigital luminance signal to allow light emission from the opticalwriting device 123 based on the printing image data contained in thereceived job. However, needless to say, the present invention is notlimited to this example. Instead, the following configuration may beemployed.

The TFT 603 constituting each of the driving circuits 404 hascharacteristic variations, wherefore driving current may vary even whenthe same gate voltage is applied. However, when the gate current isadjusted for each of the TFTs 603 based on examinations ofcharacteristic variations of the TFTs 603 carried out beforehand,desired driving current is allowed to be supplied to the respectiveOLEDs 405.

For this purpose, the control unit 112 stores variation data obtained bythe examinations, and allows the luminance signal output unit 310 toadjust the digital luminance signal based on the variation data. Morespecifically, at the same gate voltage, the control unit 112 outputs adigital luminance signal indicating higher luminance to the TFT 603which receives smaller driving current, and outputs a digital luminancesignal indicating lower luminance to the TFT 603 which receives largerdriving current.

This method realizes high image quality regardless of the characteristicvariations of the TFTs 603.

(4) According to this embodiment, the example of the tandem colormultifunction peripheral has been discussed. However, needless to say,the present invention is not limited to this example. The presentinvention is applicable to a color apparatus of a type other than thetandem type, or a monochrome apparatus. Moreover, similar advantages areoffered when the present invention is applied to a printer, a copymachine equipped with a scanner, or a facsimile machine having acommunication function.

An optical writing device and an image forming apparatus according tothe present invention are useful devices having a function of an opticalwriting device utilizing organic LEDs and capable of preventingnon-uniformity of light intensity.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the driving circuitwhich receives the designation potential does not supply drivingcurrent. In this case, a voltage drop does not occur in the power sourceline connected with the driving circuit. Accordingly, non-uniformity oflight emission from the light emitting elements is avoidable, whereforeimage quality increases. Moreover, the driving circuit supplying drivingcurrent does not receive a new designation potential within thecorresponding horizontal scanning period. In this case, light emissionduty becomes the maximum, wherefore the life of the light emittingelements increases.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first andsecond power source lines are connected to the constant voltage sourceat a common power supply point. In this case, a reference potential atwhich no driving current flows is equalized between the first and secondpower source lines, when the corresponding driving circuits areconnected only to the one side of each of the first and second powersource lines with respect to the power supply point. Accordingly, thepotential difference between the designation potential and the referencepotential is stabilized, wherefore reduction of non-uniformity ofluminance and noise is achievable. In addition, cost reduction based onreduction of the number of power sources is also achievable.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the switchingcontrol unit preferably includes selector switches provided for eachcircuitry in a range from the designation circuit to the holdingcircuit, and a range from the driving circuit to the light emittingelement. According to this configuration, variations of the drivingcurrent amount decreases in comparison with a structure which disposedthe selector switch for each circuitry in a range from the power sourceline to the driving circuit. Moreover, manufacture is easier than in astructure which disposes the light emitting element for each circuitryin a range from the driving circuit to the selector switch.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the switchingcontrol unit preferably includes selector switches provided for eachcircuitry in a range from the designation circuit to the holdingcircuit, and a range from the holding circuit to the driving circuit.According to this configuration, light emission responsiveness of thelight emitting elements improves as a result of decrease in parasiticcapacitance. Accordingly, the time required for forming an electrostaticlatent image becomes shorter. In addition, manufacture of each circuitrybecomes easier.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when a correctingunit is provided as a unit that corrects the designation potential inaccordance with characteristic variations of each of the drivingcircuits, image quality further improves.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the light emittingelements are preferably OLEDs. It is further preferable that each of thedriving circuits and the selector switches is a thin film transistor.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an image formingapparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes theoptical writing device according to an aspect of the present invention.According to this configuration, the foregoing advantages are offered.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated indetail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustratedand example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the scopeof the present invention being interpreted by terms of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An optical writing device that exposes aphotosensitive body to form an electrostatic latent image line by linefor each horizontal scanning period, the optical writing devicecomprising: a plurality of current driven light emitting elementsarranged in lines; first and second power source lines extending alongthe plurality of light emitting elements, and connected with a constantvoltage source; a designation circuit that outputs a designationpotential designating a light emission amount for each of the lightemitting elements; first driving circuits provided for each of the lightemitting elements, each of the first driving circuits including a firstholding circuit that receives and holds the designation potential outputfrom the designation circuit, and connected with the first power sourceline to supply driving current to the corresponding light emittingelement in accordance with a potential difference between a potential ata junction point with the first power source line and the designationpotential held by the first holding circuit; second driving circuitsprovided for each of the light emitting elements, each of the seconddriving circuits including a second holding circuit that receives andholds the designation potential output from the designation circuit, andconnected with the second power source line to supply driving current tothe corresponding light emitting element in accordance with a potentialdifference between a potential at a junction point with the second powersource line and the designation potential held by the second holdingcircuit; and a switching control unit that controls the first and seconddriving circuits provided for the same light emitting element so as toalternately switch respective states of the first and second drivingcircuits between a state where one of the first and second drivingcircuits receives the designation potential while the other drivingcircuit supplies the driving current, and a state where the otherdriving circuit receives the designation potential while the one drivingcircuit supplies the driving current, for each of the horizontalscanning periods.
 2. The optical writing device according to claim 1,wherein the first and second power source lines are connected to theconstant voltage source at a common power supply point, and thecorresponding driving circuits are connected to only one side of each ofthe first and second power source lines with respect to the power supplypoint.
 3. The optical writing device according to claim 1, wherein theswitching control unit includes selector switches provided for eachcircuitry in a range from the designation circuit to the holdingcircuit, and a range from the driving circuit to the light emittingelement.
 4. The optical writing device according to claim 1, wherein theswitching control unit includes selector switches provided for eachcircuitry in a range from the designation circuit to the holdingcircuit, and a range from the holding circuit to the driving circuit. 5.The optical writing device according to claim 1, further comprising acorrecting unit that corrects the designation potential in accordancewith characteristic variations of each of the driving circuits.
 6. Theoptical writing device according to claim 1, wherein the light emittingelements are OLEDs.
 7. The optical writing device according to claim 1,wherein each of the driving circuits and the selector switches is a thinfilm transistor.
 8. An image forming apparatus, comprising: aphotosensitive body; and an optical writing device that exposes thephotosensitive body and forms an electrostatic latent image line by linefor each horizontal scanning period, wherein the optical writing deviceincludes a plurality of current driven light emitting elements arrangedin lines, first and second power source lines extending along aplurality of light emitting elements, and connected with a constantvoltage source, a designation circuit that outputs a designationpotential designating a light emission amount for each of the lightemitting elements, first driving circuits provided for each of the lightemitting elements, each of the first driving circuits including a firstholding circuit that receives and holds the designation potential outputfrom the designation circuit, and connected with the first power sourceline to supply driving current to the corresponding light emittingelement in accordance with a potential difference between a potential ata junction point with the first power source line and the designationpotential held by the first holding circuit, second driving circuitsprovided for each of the light emitting elements, each of the seconddriving circuits including a second holding circuit that receives andholds the designation potential output from the designation circuit, andconnected with the second power source line to supply driving current tothe corresponding light emitting element in accordance with a potentialdifference between a potential at a junction point with the second powersource line and the designation potential held by the second holdingcircuit, and a switching control unit that controls the first and seconddriving circuits provided for the same light emitting element so as toalternately switch respective states of the first and second drivingcircuits between a state where one of the first and second drivingcircuits receives the designation potential while the other drivingcircuit supplies the driving current, and a state where the otherdriving circuit receives the designation potential while the one drivingcircuit supplies the driving current, for each of the horizontalscanning periods.
 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8,wherein the first and second power source lines are connected to theconstant voltage source at a common power supply point, and thecorresponding driving circuits are connected to only one side of each ofthe first and second power source lines with respect to the power supplypoint.
 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein theswitching control unit includes selector switches provided for eachcircuitry in a range from the designation circuit to the holdingcircuit, and a range from the driving circuit to the light emittingelement.
 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, whereinthe switching control unit includes selector switches provided for eachcircuitry in a range from the designation circuit to the holdingcircuit, and a range from the holding circuit to the driving circuit.12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further comprisinga correcting unit that corrects the designation potential in accordancewith characteristic variations of each of the driving circuits.
 13. Theimage forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the light emittingelements are OLEDs.
 14. The image forming apparatus according to claim8, wherein each of the driving circuits and the selector switches is athin film transistor.